Jonny Evans insists the Manchester United players must forget the two points dropped at Fulham last weekend, and instead focus on taking all three from West Ham.

The Northern Ireland international was given a rough time by Fulham striker Bobby Zamora as the visitors conceded a later equaliser in the 2-2 stalemate.

Nani missed the chance to put United 3-1 up from the penalty spot — and they paid the penalty.

“We should have killed the game off early on but we took our foot off the pedal and let Fulham back into the game,” admitted Evans.

“But it’s always about your next game in football — you can’t dwell on the past.”

Despite making an improvement on last season's opening two games and on the last two visits at Craven Cottage, the Red Devils already trail league leaders Chelsea by two points.

But Evans says there’s no need to worry about anything other than beating the Hammers today.

“Last season you’ll remember we lost at Burnley in our second game, and we still ran Chelsea very close for the league,” Evans continued.

“Obviously we want to win every game but it’s when you get late in the season that the games become really important. It’s still early days.”

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who will welcome back Wayne Rooney into his squad, is an admirer of Avram Grant.

However, he admits the new Hammers boss does not have an easy task turning around the fortunes of the club.

“We always have really good games against West Ham,” he added. “They are always footballing games and it will be the same on Saturday.”

Ferguson is also aware of the need to protect his players when the need arises, as it has after what Ferguson feels is a “vicious” attack on new arrival Bebe.

It had been suggested the 20-year-old had been a major disappointment since his £7million arrival from Vitoria Guimaraes and that Ferguson had made a mistake investing so much in a player he had never actually seen.

“I know he has had a couple of vicious attacks on him for why he wasn't playing in the reserve game but he was never going to be playing on Tuesday,” said Ferguson. “The boy did not deserve that. He is a young man trying to make his way in football. They didn't need to do that.